Door operating mechanism



NOV z, 1940- G. H. BABcocK 22219039 VDOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1939 lf5 Sheets-Sheet l "BY M ATTORNEY5 Nov. 12, 1940. G. H. BABcocK DOOR OPERATING MEOHANISM Filed April 19, l1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. G50/765 H 545600K;

ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1940. G. H. BABCCCK OOR OPERATING MECHANISM I 3 Sheets-Sheelo 3 Filed April 19, 1939 K N m w3@ m c m 36 EE O .wm n 6 m A 5W ab H. 14.3.# E m w 6 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE This invention relates broadly to door operating mechanisms and morespecifically to apparatus for opening and closing doors from a remote'point. This invention further contem- B` plates a mechanism. to lock the doors automatically in their closed position, an independent control device adapted for manual operation in the event of powerfailure or mishap to the motor ydriven linkage and a control unit designed for installation form.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a door closing mechanism which is conupon doors of variable size and n structed to p eliminate the closing impactr and l5' consequent injury to the door and framing structure of the building. I j y Another object of the invention is to provide a latching device which is adaptedto automatically lock the doors in their closed position `yet effect the automatic release thereof upon the internal movement of power actuated door oper-ating mechanism. l A I Another object of the .invention isto Vprovide a release member for disengaging .the drive unit without dismantlization of the power ,actuating mechanism.

A still further object of the invention` is to provide a lost motion device .which vwill facilitate the operation of the `electric motor coincident SQ the; operation of the load.

Another object of the inventionis to construct a door actuating? mechanism which is reliable of operation, sturdy of structure. vand economic4 of` manufacture. .i

Another object of the invention is to construct ay door operating mechanism lwhich is so .or-

ganized as to accommodatethe ready installation and operative adjustment thereof irrespective of the environs inwhich the unit m-ay be used.`

ancillary of the foregoing and the mannerin which all the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, y considered in connection rwith the 4accompanyingv I drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, which application; i i

Fig. lis a. plan view of the improveddoor `operating mechanism installed in a garage having hinged swinging doors, the garage being shown in horizontal section with the doors in their closed position; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on Fa plane indicated by the line 2?:2 `of Fig. 1;

are made a part of this l ,Fig. 4 is a sectional `dicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3; U

Yindicated by the line 'I-l of Fig. 2;

Other objects and yadvantages more or lless Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary `sectional view taken on a `plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; I

View taken on a plane in- Fig. 5 is a sectional view.` taken on a plane indicated'by the line-5 5 of Fig. 2 I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged' fragmentary verticalL `sectional view of the links connecting the actuating mechanism to the door;

Fig. 7 is a sectional viewV taken on a plane Fig. L8 is a bottom view of the door `operating mechanism rail and associated parts, certainmembers thereof being broken away` and the doors being shown vin section; i, f u

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the traveler, the section being taken on a plane indicated bythe line 9--9 of Fig.- 7; and

mechanism, the section being taken on a plane indicated by the line Ill-lll) of Fig. 9.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, the door operating I In detailv the `supporting frame I vcomprises af pair of spaced Z-rails yI (Fig. 7) anchored at their forward endsy by an angle plate I6 secured` upon theinner wall of the' building structure and suspended at their rearward ends by hangers I1 `bolted to the frame structure or joist B of the building. Upon the Z-rails I5, adjacent the forward end thereof there is a plate I8 adapted for the support of a block' I9l constituting a jourf nal bearing for the reduced end portion 20 of the screw I2. The screw is ldisposed para-axial the rails I5 and extends substantially `throughout the length thereof.

The opposed ends of the rails I5 are 22 secured to the lower face thereof for the sup` port of the reduced end portion of the screw I2. The vertical leg of the angle iron 2|` is Fig. is a sectional view ofthe releasing united` by a transversely disposed angle iron 2| secured to the hangers Il and having a. journal bearingl slotted for the reception of bolts 23 provided for the securement of a table 24 drilled to receive the ancho-r bolts for the electric motor I. Upon the armature shaft of the motor there is a pulley 25 having a belt 26 thereon which is trained over a sheave wheel 21 loosely mounted on the end of the shank portion of the screw |2. Adjacent the hub of the sheave wheel 21 there is a pintle 28 adapted for abutting engagement with an arm 29 keyed to the screw I2 and mounted on the screw adjacent the sheave wheel 21. The sheave wheel is restrained from outward movement upon the shank of the screw I2 by a washer 36 supported by a machine screw 3| threaded into the end portion of the screw shaft I2.

The traveler I3 is formed with parallel sidesadapted for sliding engagement between the depending legs of the Z-bars 5 and further constructed with laterally extended flanged top portions 32 adapted for engagement with the upper legs of the Z-rails I5. Below the traveler I3 there is a plate 33 having grooves 34 machined in the lateral edges thereof for the reception of the lower flanges 35, of the Z-bars I5. The plate 33 is formed with a depending "boss 36 drilled to receivea plunger 31 and counter bored'for the reception of a spring 38 normally urging the plunger intoseated engagement in a drilled opening 39 in the traveler I3. The spring 38 is retained within the counter bored recess in the boss 36 by a cap 40 secured upon the threaded free endy thereof.

The plunger is yformed with a reduced shank portion 31a which extends through a key hole opening in the cap 40 (Fig. 10) radaptedto facilitatethe reentrant engagement of a key 31h in the shank of the plunger when the end thereof is-seated in the opening 39 and to retain the plunger in its retracted position when the key is withdrawn from the key hole and revolved for abutting engagement with the outer face of the cap 4|).v Y

The boss 36 is machined to form a pivotal bearing for the arms I4 which extend divergently therefrom to the brackets 4| mounted upon the doors A adjacent the hinged portions thereof.

The arms I4, as will be seen inv Fig. 6, are preferably constructed from a tubular member 42 provided with apertures 43 in their inner ends for the reception of the boss or pivot 36 in the plate 33. The arms I4 are provided with sleeves 44 mounted thereon, having compression springs Y bracket 4|.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the mechanism fo controlling the operation of the reversible motor comprises a toggle switch having the operating arm 5| therefor depending from the lower face thereof.

The switch is supported by a bracket 52 mounted upon the upper face of the Z-bars I5 intermediate their ends. Adjacent the journal bearings |9 and 22 of the screw I2 and mounted upon the upper faces of one of the Z-bars I5 there is a pair of brackets 53 having bell cranks 54 piv- ,otally mounted thereon. The free ends of the bell cranks 54 are constructed with inwardly eX- tended lips arranged for engagement respectively with rollers 55 mounted on the upper face of the traveler I3.

As illustrated, the4 rollers are preferably mounted between a pair of spaced angle irons sel ythe arcuate movement thereof and may, if desired, be provided with a suitable compensating member to facilitate lateral adjustments. A

The doors may be locked in their closed position by a latch and throw bolt 6| arranged respectively adjacent the top and bottom portions of the doors. The latch 60 comprises a bell crank 62 pivotally supported upon a bracket 63 mounty ed upon the ller block 64 subjacent the angle plate I6. 'I'he upper arm of the bell crank 62 is apertured for the reception of a pull rod 65 extending rearwardly therefrom and connected with an arm 66 pivotally mounted upon one of the Z-rails |5. The arm 66 is disposed for engagement with the boss 36 in the plate 33 (see Fig. 8). The free end of the bell crank 62 is formed with a vertically disposed ear 61 engageable with the rearward wall of a channular strap or keeper 68 mounted upon the upper portion of the door A. Subjacent the ear 61 of the bell crank 62 there is a lip 69 adapted for abutting engagement with the outwardly bent end portion of a rod 10 which is guided in a frame 1| mounted upon the door. The lower end of the rod 10 is apertured to receive a chain which is connected to an arm 12 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a plate 13 mounted on the lower portion of the door. The free end of the arm 12 is formed with a rounded head arranged for engagement with the end of the throw bolt 6| which is mounted for reciprocative movement within apertures 14 formed in a channel 15 mounted on the plate 13. 'Ihe throw bolt 6| is cross drilled for the reception of a pin 16 which engages a spring 'I1 telescoplcally mounted upon the throw bolt 6| intermediate the lower leg of the channel 15 and pin 16. Upon the floor of the buildingr structure there is a plate 18 apertured for the reception of the conical end of the throw bolt 6|. The pull rod 65 is tensioned through a vcrintractile spring 19 connected to the upper arm of the bell crank 62 and to an evelet 80 retained in the header 8| constituting a portion of the door frame.

The electric motor |I may be wired in a circuit having electric switches arranged thereinr to accommodate the operation thereof concomitant with the environs of each particular installation, for example, it may be desirable to mount one of the motor control switches upon a post located adjacent the driveway and accessible from the drivers seat of the vehicle. Such switch may be of the type adapted for operation by a key in order to safeguard unlicensed operation of the control mechanism. When the switch is thrown the armature shaft is free to revolve until the pintle 2B on the sheave wheel 21 engages the arm 29, thus relieving thestarting strain upon the motor.v -The arm 29 being keyed to the screw I2 causes the rotationthereof andV thus effects the longitudinal translation' of` the nut or traveler I3 upon the-screw, which in turn advances the pivotally mounted arms i4 and doors A to the distended position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l. When the traveler nut I3 reaches a point on the screw I2 "adjacent the end thereof the roller 55 engages the contiguous bell crank 54, thus shifting the rod 56 to cause the actuation of the toggle switch 50, which is wired to break the circuit leading to the electric motor II. Obviously, the converse operation will be effected when the traveler nut I3 reaches its innermost position where the second roller 55 will engage the second bell crank 54, thus operating the switch 5I] and again breaking the circuit to the motor. As previously stated, the motor II is of the reversible type, the circuit therefor being arranged with the reversing switch disposed either in the building structure within which the door operating mechanism is mounted or at some remote point or both.

By virtue of the elongated slots in the brackets carrying the rollers 55 suitable adjustment is provided to eect the operation of the circuit breaker switch 50 in timed relation with the closure of the doors.

The drift of the motor and inertia forces imparted to the traveler nut during the actuation of the door will cause a slight overrun of the traveler nut I3 upon the screw I2, such action, however, will be fully absorbed by the compression springs 45 interposed in the arms I4. In the event the crack between the two` doors is covered by a framing stripQthe door carrying such strip may be adjusted for operation slightly in advance of the second door.

Should the source of electric power fail or` injury occur to any of the power driven operating mechanism the doors may be manually oper-` ated by retraction of the plunger 31 from its seated position in the traveler nut I3 to facilitate the free movement of the plate 33 upon the anges 35 of the Z-bars I5. The plate may then be sustained in its disengaged position by adjusting the key 31-B in the shank of the plunger in abutting engagement with the outer face of the cap 40.

Since each operative movement of the doors require the rotation of the motor in different directions the pintle 28 on the sheave wheel 2'! will be disposed alternately on opposed sides of the arm 29, thus when the motor is started the armature shaft will always be free to rotate until the sheave wheel has completed a full revolution.

When the doors are in their closed position they are locked by the latch 60 and throw bolt 6I (see Figs. 3 and 4). Upon actuation of the switch for operating the motor, the screw will be rotated, thus causing the movement of the traveler I3, which relieves the preloaded springs 45 in the arms I4 vcoincident with the initial movement of the traveler permitting the arm 66 (Fig. 8) to move forwardly under the influence of the spring 'I3 before movement is transmitted to the doors through the arms I4, which in turn causes the oscillation of the bell crank 62, thus effecting disengagement of the ear 61 with its keeper 33. The oscillatory movement of the bell crank 32 will likewise effect the disengagement of the lip 69 with the shouldered portion of the rod 'I0 and permit oscillation of the arm 12 under the inuence of the spring 'I'I mounted on the throw bolt 6I. At the completion ofthe closing operation of the doors the springs 45are com,- pressed and the inner ends of the sleeves 44 are positioned in spaced relation with the inner ends ofthe draw bars 46, thus during the initial movement of the traveler nut I 3a suicient lag or lapse of time occurs to permit actuation of the latching mechanism before the driving thrust for opening the doors is imparted to the arms.

Conversely, when the traveler nut I3 is translated to the limit of its inward movement the plate 33 will engagev the arm 66, thus tensioning the spring 'I9 and simultaneously causing the ear 61 to engage with its keeper 68. Moreover, the lip 69 on the bell crank B2 will elevate the rod 10, thus oscillating the arm 'I2 in the position which compresses the spring 'I'I and likewise forces the throw bolt 6I into its engaged or seated position within the plate 18. Any movement of the plate 33 will release the locking unit whether the movement is made manually or by the mechanism. Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim: 1. In combination with a pair of hinged garage doors, mechanism for the operation thereof comprising, a motor, a screw rotated thereby, a traveler nut mounted for reciprocation thereon, a plate detachably mounted on said nut, arms pivotally mounted on said plate and connected with said doors, an electrical switch for reversing said motor, a rod for controlling said switch, bell cranks supporting said rod actuated by said traveler nut and means coordinated with said bell cranks and adjustably mounted on said nut for of said screw, a latch mounted on one of said y doors, a spring coordinated therewith normally urging said latch in unlocked position and a lever connected to said latch and disposed for engagement with said plate when the nut is moved into door closing position, whereby said latch is held in locking adjustment by said lever when the doors are closed and spring operated to unlock the doors coincident the initial movement of said nut.

3. In combination with a pair of hinged garage doors, mechanism for the operation thereof comprising, a motor, a screw rotated thereby, a traveler nut mounted for reciprocation thereon, a plate mounted on said nut, arms on said plate connected with said doors, an electrical switch for reversing said motor, a rod for controlling said switch .coordinated with said traveler nut to regulate the actuation of said rod contemposcrew, a latch mounted on one of said doors, a spring coordinated therewith normally urging said latch in unlocked position, a lever connected to said latch and disposed for engagement With said. plate When the nut is moved into door closing position, and a detachable connection intermediate said plate and said nut, whereby said latch, arms and doors may be actuated independent of said traveler nut and the mechanisms coordinated therewith.

` GEORGE H. BABCOCK. 

